In Case Anyone's Wondering.......

Yes we are still alive and kickin'!  I blogged several weeks ago and was going to post when I had finished downloading some pictures.  During that time I read and reread it while it was hanging out in draft land.  I decided the words were just too depressing.  There is one thing I can say for sure, this blog has been a good therapist.  It lets me vent and never charges me a cent!  I actually have several posts that never made it out of draft land but they all  have helped me by allowing me a place to leave my anger and sadness and move on to finding my joy again.  So, with that said, I'm sincerely going to try and make this a family journal until it one day again becomes our place to post adoption news.       

 Just for the record, there is no news on our case but there are some cases moving.  One family brought their daughter home this week.  Several cases have begun snailing their way through the new Acuerdo process with CNA.  I'm praying it's just a matter of time before we get the notification that our case is ready to proceed.

Sooooo, now for catching up.  We had a wonderful get away over the summer at our favorite vacation spot, Anna Maria Island FL.  Of course, the week went by much too fast for me.  I'm never ready to leave there.

Some people say "if you've seen one sunset, you've seen 'em all"  but I strongly disagree.  I never get tired of sunsets on the Gulf!

Joshua (our oldest) with Alison and Audree

Crazy Kyle trying to get Audree to smile so Erin can get a pic

Kels and Maria.  Typical sisters, one minute their all smiles and the next, their pulling each other's hair out!

So glad Daddy got to go with us!  He is the shark tooth finding champion!  It took him a few days to get his eyes pealed but he came through!

 

 For some reason, Maria's first day of school picture will only post side ways so it's not going to make it in this post.  She's been back in school for almost three weeks now.  Long enough that the newness has worn off and she is back to her old ways.........sleeping until the last possible second and then turning her mother into a ranting raging crazy woman trying to get her to school on time!  I'm already ready for a vacation! 

 

The bathroom is coming right along.  So close to being done.  And it's just beautiful! 

The lighting's not good in this picture but you can get the general idea of the bathroom.  The back part of the room with the window is where the claw foot tub will be.  It arrived this week so hopefully it will be installed soon.

 

While Mark and I are finishing the bathroom, there is a lot of other work going on around the house.  Two weeks ago, carpenters began work on our new family room.  So far, the weather has cooperated and they are really moving along.  Today they framed the second dormer in the roof and will probably have the roof sheeted before they go home.  I'm hoping it will all be closed in before Isaac rolls through this area.  Local weather guys are predicting up to 5" of rain here.  Nothing like making up for the majority of our deficit in one week end!

 

Closing for now but continue to keep the children, waiting to come home to their forever families and the families who wait for them in your prayers.  The helpless feeling in waiting is so difficult but we are not giving up!!